Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 102-7"
COURSE NAME: "Introductory Italian II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2024

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Sarah Franceschi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: This course carries 3 semester hours of credit. Prerequisite: Placement or IT 101(As of Fall 2022: Placement or IT 101 with a grade of C or above)
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A continuation of IT101. This course aims at developing and reinforcing the language skills acquired in Introductory Italian I, while placing special emphasis on oral communication.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course presents the first principles of Italian language, geography and culture in a student-centered learning environment.
Upon completing this course, students will possess the ability to:
• Satisfy a limited number of immediate needs.
• Understand and convey some spoken Italian through the knowledge and usage of familiar and memorized structures, on the most common features of daily life that require the interchange of simple and direct information.
• Understand the general meaning of oral announcements and brief texts on familiar subjects with simple morphology and lexicon.
• Produce one-paragraphtexts with limited formulaic information by using elementary functions
Students will study in depth the following grammar points:

Present tense of regular and irregular verbs; Past tense (Passato Prossimo- Imperfetto);

Possessive adjectives; Present and Past tense of reflexive verbs. Direct\ Indirect Pronouns; Imperative.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completing this course, students will possess the ability to:

* understand written and spoken Italian, through the knowledge of simple structures. Situations will be varied, but general and such as to require an interchange of every day information and routine tasks.

* participate in simple, direct conversations on generally predictable topics related to daily activities and personal environment.

* satisfy simple personal needs and social demands to survive in the target language culture

* comprehend the general meaning and some details of texts on familiar topics

* produce brief texts on topics of personal interests and social needs, primarily in the present, past, future, and imperative.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments	Format	Local Bookstore	Online Purchase
New Italian Espresso Textbook beginner	Gruppo Italiaidea	Alma Edizioni	9788861827240			Hard Copy
New Italian Espresso Workbook beginner	Gruppo Italiaidea	Alma Edizioni	9788861827288			Hard Copy

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
4 TESTS	The tests are designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar, vocabulary covered, their reading and listening comprehension, and written ability.	40%
Oral proficiency	Oral proficiency In-class oral activities and an oral presentation. Students are examined singularly, in pairs and, in small groups.The types of tests are: conversations between the two students or the small groups, monologues, role-playing. Conversations, monologues, and role-playing are elicited by visual stimuli or questions from the instructor.	15%
Final exam	The final exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and the vocabulary covered, their reading and listening comprehension, and written ability.	25%
Class participation and Homework	Students are expected to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial since the learning process requires considerable practice.	20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Students are supposed to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial, since the learning process requires considerable practice. Regular attendance is an essential component of class participation. Students are allowed 4 unexcused absences. The final grade will be lowered by 2 points for each additional absence. Make sure your travel plans do not interfere with the class schedule. Arriving in class with more than 10 minutes late will be considered half absence.

Students seeking an exemption from your attendance policy must submit an online petition to the Academic Dean’s Office, which grants such exemptions only in cases of documented necessity.

I should not ask for, receive, or consider students’ medical documentation.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE PROFESSOR’S DISCRETION

Week 1

January 16, 18

Daily life, introduce yourself and ask about others, express your preferences, what you like and what you don’t.

Present tense of regular, irregular (Review) - article / name / adjective agreement (Review). Use of verb “piacere”.

Week 2

January 23, 25

UNIT 8 Vita quotidiana

Competencies: Describing one’s work habits. Describing and asking about someone’s daily routine. Congratulating someone on special occasions and holidays. Saying the date.

Grammar: finire di, cominciare a. Prepositions da, a. Present tense of reflexive verbs. Possessive adjectives mio, tuo.

Vocabulary: Everyday actions. Congratulations and wishes.

Culture: Cosa regalano gli italiani.

Week 3

January 30, February 1

UNIT 7 Un finesettimana

Competencies: Describing a perfect weekend. Talking about past actions. Understanding descriptions of past events. Specifying when a past event took place.

Grammar: Past tense passato prossimo .Forms and agreement of past participle. Irregular past participle. Ci vuole, ci vogliono.

Vocabulary: Weather conditions. Time expressions.

Culture: Dove Andiamo in vacanza?

FEBRUARY 1 TEST 1

Week 4

February 5, 7

UNIT 7 cont.

Week 5

February 13, 15, 16

UNIT 9 La famiglia

Competencies: Describing a family tree. Talking and writing about family. Talking about past events.

Grammar: Possessive adjectives. Past tense (passato prossimo) of reflexive verbs.

Vocabulary: Family relationships

Culture: I gesti degli italiani.

FEBRUARY 16 MAKE UP DAY FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 25

Week 6

February 20, 22

UNIT 9 cont.

FEBRUARY 20 TEST 2

FEBRUARY 26- MARCH 1 SPRING BREAK

Week 7

March 5, 7

UNIT 10 Sapori d’Italia

Competencies: Talking about one’s eating habits. Writing a shopping list. Talking about typical Italian recipes. Doing grocery shopping. Indicating quantities.

Grammar: Direct pronouns. Ne

Vocabulary: Food and dishes. Measurement units. Food packaging.

Culture: L’Italia nel piatto

Week 8

March 12, 14

UNIT 11 Fare acquisti

Competencies: Shopping for clothes and shoes. Making a polite request.

Grammar: Direct and indirect pronouns. Piacere + indirect pronoun.

Vocabulary: Colors. Clothing. Clothing and shoes sizes.

Culture: La moda italiana

Week 9

March 19, 21

MARCH 19 TEST 3

UNIT 12 Il mondo che cambia

Competencies: Talking about technology and your relationship with it. Describing past situation and actions that occurred repeatedly. Talking about your younger days. Write a short story.

Grammar: Past tense imperfetto. Passato prossimo vs imperfetto. Agreement between direct pronouns and past participles.

Vocabulary: Technology. Travels. Time expressions.

Culture: La storia dell’Italia moderna in 6 oggetti

Week 10

March 26, 28

UNIT 12 cont.

Week 11

April 2, 4

UNIT 13 Come siamo

Competencies: Understanding and giving physical descriptions. Describing one’s personality. Making, accepting and refusing an invitation. Describing actions which are going on.

Grammar: Superlativo assoluto. Present progressive.

Vocabulary: Nouns and adjectives for physical and personality descriptions.

Culture: Italiani celebri

Week 12

April 9, 11

APRIL 9 TEST 4

UNIT 13 cont.

Week 13

April 16, 18

UNIT 15 Vivere in Italia

Competencies: Comparing Italian social habits and traditions with those of one’s country. Understanding and giving orders, recommendations and instructions.

Grammar: Imperativo informale.

Vocabulary: Italian habits and traditions.

Culture: Che differenza….!

APRIL 18 ORAL PRESENTATION

Week 14

April 23

APRIL 23 Final Review

Final Examination April 29- May 3